Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-45):
● Cole Custer started third, finished 11th.
● Due to a jack bolt malfunction before the race, Custer was demoted to the rear of the field after the team replaced the broken part for the start of today’s race.
● Custer piloted the Haas Automation Ford to the top-20 in just 13 laps and battled just outside the top-10 before the stage ended.
● At the conclusion of the stage, inclement weather caused red-flag conditions for one hour and 34 minutes.
● When the red flag was raised, Custer pitted for four tires, fuel and adjustments to correct his loose-handling racecar.
Stage 2 Recap (Laps 46-90):
● Custer started 12th, finished third to earn eight bonus points.
● After a solid restart, Custer built momentum and powered his Haas Automation Ford into the top-five on lap 62.
● On lap 83, the second red flag of the event was raised due to rain.
● When racing continued, Custer restarted in the third spot and maintained the position during the one-lap shootout.
● Custer pitted for four tires and fuel at the end of Stage 2. Thirteen other cars did not pit at the end of the stage.
Final Stage Recap (Laps 91-200):
● Custer started 15th, finished eighth.
● He re-entered the top-10 on lap 110.
● Custer pitted on lap 166 from the seventh position for four tires and fuel.
● After green-flag pit stops cycled through, he was scored in the eighth position where he ran until the race concluded.
Notes:
● This was Custer’s third NASCAR Xfinity Series race at ISM Raceway near Phoenix.
● Today’s event was Custer’s second Xfinity Series top-10 at Phoenix and second top-10 of the season.
● Custer earned eight bonus points in the DC Solar 200.
● Only eight of the 40 drivers finished on the lead lap.
● Four cautions slowed the race for 24 laps.
● Brad Keselowski won the DC Solar 200 to score his 37th career Xfinity Series victory, first of the season and second at Phoenix. His margin of victory over second-place Justin Allgaier was 0.530 seconds.
Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing With Biagi-DenBeste:
“It was a solid day for our Haas Automation Mustang team. The guys brought me a really good car, we just weren’t able to get the track position that we needed at the front there. Another top-10 finish though, so that is something to be proud of. Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing is working hard and I think it is showing. We are getting closer and closer.”
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the Auto Club 300 on Saturday, March 17 at Auto Club Speedway. The race starts at 5 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1.
TSC PR/Photo Christian Petersen/Getty Images
